Toonami (UK)
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Toonami is a UK children's channel dedicated to comedy, drama and cartoons.
History
Toonami was a programming block on the Cartoon Network, until October 2002 when it became a key component of CNX, a new channel launched by Cartoon Network UK, the first Cartoon Network derivative to launch outside North America. CNX also broadcasted martial arts movies, adult-oriented animation like the Adult Swim originals, and dramas like The Shield and Birds of Prey at night. The network's audience was the young adult male demos that's currently catered by the UK's Bravo and the US's Spike TV. Almost a year later, CNX was relaunched as Toonami and now targeted towards a much younger audience.It is of note that Bravo will be airing an adult swim block as apposed to any Turner channel as a result of this demograph fixation.
International
In the United States, Europe and many international Cartoon Network channels, Toonami remains a block on Cartoon Network. See Toonami for more details on the programming strand.The Criticisms of Toonami UK
Toonami UK has had its critics ever since day one after it was relaunched from the previous CNX format. The biggest criticisms has come from viewers who wanted more action-animation aimed towards older audiences which had all but disappeared.In March 2006, criticism about Toonami increased after the network relaunched itself from an action-animation network into a general entertainment outlet airing teen soaps, live-action sitcoms, and other non-animated programming.
Toonami and the DC Comics series
Toonami UK has shown most DC Comics shows on the channel, including the more recent Justice League Unlimited, although contractual disputes with Warner TV distribution has prevented the channel from showing the third and final season of Batman Beyond and the whole of , forcing the channel to recycle through the first two seasons of Batman Beyond as a result. This theory is corroborated by the fact that not a single episode of the myriad Super Friends shows (which were something of a mainstay on the US Cartoon Network channels) have ever been broadcast on a Turner UK channel.The new direction of Toonami
As of March 2006, Toonami UK changed its focus from action cartoons to entertainment in general, as the channel began airing four live-action shows: Backyard Science, Parker Lewis Can't Lose (which has since been axed from its weekday slots),Stencil, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper and Life with DerekToonami also adopted a new on screen look and website style (Changing the black and red style to suit the channel's new blue appearance) and a new EPG (Electronic Program Guide) No. on Sky (602 next to Cartoon Network).
Destination Friday
For a short period of time, Toonami UK aired a special programming block on Fridays called "Destination Friday", which ran from 4PM to 9PM. Recently, Toonami UK's newer shows have only aired once or twice a week, such as One Piece, Code Lyoko and Pokémon Chronicles. Code Lyoko was later stripped across 7 days. "Destination Friday" initially repeated the week's episodes for viewers who either want to see them again or missed them the first time round. Between 5.30PM and 7PM, a feature-length animated movie has also been shown.A selection of the various Batman animated movies were shown here, such as Batman & Mr. Freeze: Sub-Zero, ' and '. The UK premieres of the Dragon Ball, and Dragonball Z and Dragonball GT movies occupied this slot throughout the summer months.
Toonami Programmes
Current Shows
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Previously Aired Shows
External links
- [Toonami UK] - Official website for the UK Toonami Channel
- [Sky Page] with TV Listings
- [The X Bridge] - American based opinion of what has become of Toonami UK.
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